EGL-17(FGF) expression coordinates the attraction of the migrating sex myoblasts with vulval induction in C. elegans.
During the development of the egg-laying system in Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites, central gonadal cells organize the alignment of the vulva with the sex myoblasts, the progenitors of the egg-laying muscles. A fibroblast growth factor [EGL-17(FGF)] and an FGF receptor [EGL-15(FGFR)] are involved in the gonadal signals that guide the migrations of the sex myoblasts. Here we show that EGL-17(FGF) can act as an instructive guidance cue to direct the sex myoblasts to their final destinations. We find that egl-17 reporter constructs are expressed in the primary vulval cell and that EGL-17(FGF) expression in this cell correlates with the precise positioning of the sex myoblasts. We postulate that EGL-17(FGF) helps to coordinate the development of a functional egg-laying system, linking vulval induction with proper sex myoblast migration.
Burdine
R D
RD
Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8005, USA.
Branda
C S
CS
Stern
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D024510:Muscle Development; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology; D009154:Mutation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D014844:Vulva / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C105157:Egl-17 protein, C elegans; D006133:Growth Substances; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins